Custodial torture: police assault visuals emerge from Peechi station

Even as outrage continues over the custodial assault visuals from Kunnamkulam police station, fresh CCTV evidence of another brutal episode has surfaced, this time from Peechi police station in Thrissur district.

The incident traces back to May 23, 2023, when a dispute broke out at Food and Fun Hotel run by the Laly’s Group at Pattikkad between a customer and some staff. The customer from Vandazhi, Palakkad, had lodged a complaint alleging assault by hotel staff.

Following the complaint, hotel manager Rony Johny and driver Lithin Philip were taken to the Peechi station, where they were allegedly manhandled by the police team led by the then Station House Officer P.M. Ratheesh, according to hotel owner K.P. Ouseph.

Mr. Ouseph further alleged that his son Paul Joseph and the staff were detained and pressured to settle the case. The complainant demanded ₹5 lakh as the settlement amount and said that ₹3 lakh was for the police, according to Mr. Ouseph.

For the compromise, a sum of ₹5 lakh was reportedly handed over in front of the station’s CCTV camera. The complainant later retracted his complaint, claiming he was not assaulted. Following this, the employees were released.

Mr. Ouseph pursued the matter legally and filed a request with the State Information Commission to access the CCTV footage. After nearly a year-long legal battle, the visuals have now been obtained, revealing the assault inside the station.